Cromford Studio and Gallery are pleased to welcome Peter Woolley to be Aprils featured artist, Peter will be displaying a selection of his outstanding watercolours, read below to find out more about Peter and his background.

Peter Woolley was born in Derby in 1960. He was educated at Spondon Comprehensive School, where he received Art tuition from the late Wilfred Ball. Leaving school at 16, he worked for 6 years at Rolls Royce in Derby, ultimately as an Assistant Buyer. He left the company in 1982 to more fully pursue his interests in music and painting.A bad experience with a gallery reinforced his desire to have as complete control over the sales of his work as possible, resulting in his first one-man exhibition at the Guildhall in Derby in February 1983. After early experimentation with subject and medium, he settled for the pure watercolour style he now employs. He began painting full-time in December 1986.

In June 1991, Peter presented his Pennine Way Exhibition, a collection of 50 finished paintings and a portfolio of working sketches depicting Britain's first official Long Distance footpath. He has since repeated his success with the Coast to Coast, Three Peaks and West Highland Way Exhibitions, and all his subsequent work has been, in some way, directly related to his experiences on walking/backpacking expeditions.

Peter Woolley's original work can be found in private collections throughout Great Britain and overseas (principally in Norway, USA, Canada, Hong Kong, China and Australia), and many paintings have been published as Limited Edition prints and Art cards.

Besides touring extensively in the Yorkshire Dales and the Lake District, where he gathers his raw material in the form of outdoor sketches, he also teaches watercolour to beginners and runs weekend courses across the North of England throughout the summer months.

Peter has written and produced a full range of products designed to help the home student learn how to paint in watercolour. His successful CD-Rom: Peter Woolley's Watercolour Studio 4 and his laminated sets of Study Packs (Watercolour Stages 1 and 2 & Sketching Guide) are suitable for all abilities, from complete beginner upwards.

March 2005 saw the launch of his first book, published by David & Charles, entitled Drawing Towards Watercolour. Several DVD video Collections featuring Peter Woolley, produced by the SAA and Pyjama Video are also available. All products (CD-Roms, Book, DVDs, Study Packs, Prints, Cards and even original watercolours) can be ordered direct from this website and shipped to anywhere in the world.

He has appeared on TV, on The Painting and Drawing Channel (Sky Digital Channel 167), and has recently been appointed art tutor on board Saga and Fred Olsen Cruises.Peters website: http://www.peterwoolley.co.uk/

Peters work can be viewed at Cromford Studio and Gallery throughout April opening times are Wednesday - Sunday 10 - 5 pm.